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Richards hold on him tightened as he hammered down on his back with his elbow out of anger. "I'd snap your spine in half..." he whispered threateningly in his ear. "The difference between Raquel and Lorey....Lorey's never killed anyone. Lorey's never had to result to selling herself to horny, sleezy men to make an easy buck. She's worked hard and long her whole life. So don't you dare compare her to Raquel." He hissed, his anger riding up. Though if he had been a bit calmer himself, he probably would have kept his mouth shut. he knew very well those words would either provoke him more or make him realize that Richard was right...which he highly doubted the second choice.

Richard's eyes calmed almsot imediately, hearing Lorey's voice. He let go of damian, standing quickly. HE refused to meet anyone's eyes. He simply gave Damian a rough but simple kick to the leg before escorting himself out of the room, fishing throug his pockets again.

He managed to find the last empty room that had been reserved for him, though he found it ironic and odd he had yet to step foot in it. it was simple, white, but more masculine than the ladies rooms. He actually didn't even look around. He was too busy locating and lighting a cigarette. He inhaled deeply as he held the small white stick to his lips, trying to calm himself down. He hated that Lorey had to see him snap like that, but adding insult to injury with his smoking, he could hide.

Richard didn't look at her. Nor did he budge when her lips touched his skin. He merely stared straight ahead, brow furrowed, eyes intense but distant at the same time. "L-lorey...could...c-could I have a moment alone...just for a minute..." He said, his voice rather shaky itself. He refused to look at her, he simply lifted his also shaking hand and took another nervous puff.

Richard seemed to blink awake, nodding his agreement. He managed to make his way to the opposite side of the room where he opened one of the few windows that let some light in. He sat on the sill and tried to calm himself down. He hated getting that angry and didn't want to go that dark place he knew he had.

Richard was getting to the end of his cigarette, feeling more and more guilty at the thought of how badly he needed it. Working in the police force was hard. For any man.
The things you witness on a daily basis are enough to harden a man. Richard had been blessed with Rose who helped him through most of it. But there were somethings even she couldn't fix let a lone understand. Richard didn't like the things he had picked up from the academy or from on the job training. He knew 6 ways to kill a man with one hand a lone. He never wanted to use a one. He had also developed a slight temper with certain types over the years, mostly rubbing off on him from other lower cops with strong prejudices. He was young and impressionable in the force so anything negative he was exposed to stuck to him. He knew this to be true and never denied it. Maybe that was why he was so hard on Damian and Raquel. They were both types that he had learned to loathe over the years.

Smoking too had been one of those habits he had just picked up. That and drinking...and fighting...
The fighting he did for fun when he was a boy, but in his old age *lol* he had just resorted to drinking. Though smoking seemed to stay consistent. Any time he became unnerved or felt that he was about to endanger someone's life by his actions, he would light one up. And almost immediately he would be ok. This became a crutch for him and apparently still was.

Richard had just finished off his cancer stick and seemed to nod, even though he knew quite well she couldn't see it. After taking a few deep breaths, he went to join her in the kitchen.
Upon entering, he saw what a spread she had whipped up and forced a smile. "Looks amazing." He said, trying to pretend that everything was fine and dandy with the world.

Richard sighed, looking up at the ceiling a moment before meeting her gaze. "I...really don't know..." He said with all honesty. "I wish I could tell you different...God I wish...But...I just can't...." He looked sad and dissapointed in himself as he gazed in to the vast ocean of love and concern that was Lorey's eyes.

HE looked at her long and hard with loving, appreciative eyes. "Dove...There are just some things you can't fix. You either have to let them be or wait for them to go away on their own..." He assured quietly. Rose had hated him smoking so much, she wouldn't allow it in the house. Richard found himself many a night on the balcony, or the roof, alone. He'd walk on water for Rose, just as he would for Lorey. But smoking was something he couldn't just drop...no matter how much he loved them. It was something that would take time.